Page 8 of His Fierce Fugitive
She rubs her arms, considering me. “Just holding. Nothing else, right?”
“I have no intention of doing anything against your will, Iris.”
She swallows and crawls over to me, sitting in my lap and curling into my arms. I pull her close. She stiffens briefly, then slowly her body relaxes against mine. Maybe this was a mistake. The feel of her soft golden hair on my cheek and her steady breath on my neck send a shudder through me. I want to kiss her temple, but I hold back, reminding myself that her comfort comes first.
“Tell me about Gwen and Ryz,” she whispers, as she rests her head on my shoulder.
“She’s a fiery one,” I start. “Now Ryz won’t like that I’m telling you this, but when they first met, Gwen put up quite the fight. Before she knew Ryz meant her no harm, she brought him down with a kick to the groin, and then a knee to his face.”
Iris chuckles. “That’s my girl!”
I then relay the story of how Gwen was captured by the Ocrevv, including her heroism as she jumped in front of a laser meant for Ryz.
“Oh my god! And she’s okay?” Iris looks up at me, her blue-gray eyes shining.
“She’s fine now. But it was uncertain there for a while. Luckily, the King has some amazing physicians.”
She lays back down on my shoulder and puts a hand to her heart. “Phew. You scared me for a moment.”
“I’m sorry, my m—” I begin, then rein myself in. “Iris.”
We sit like that, our bodies intertwined for warmth and comfort, for a long while. She asks me about Ydris and I tell her stories of my youth, and my time as a tracker. But soon, I feel her relax even more, her breath slowing, her body going limp in slumber.
I stay awake, my mind racing.
I'm acutely aware of every place her body touches mine, and I ache with an intense longing to claim her. I fight the temptation to stroke her hair or caress her cheek. My restraint nearly breaks me, but I hold fast to my commitment, to myself, and to her.
Earning her trust will take time.
Just as exhaustion finally claims me, she shifts closer, her head sliding down to my chest. I breathe in the sweet scent of her, like the jnera fruit we ate earlier, and she makes a sound that scrambles my brain.
"I...I don't know what this is," she whispers, her breath tickling my skin. "But with you, Tak, I feel...safe."
The words ‘my mate’ again are on the tip of my tongue, but I fear it's too soon, so I simply nod, my heart thundering in my chest. As I lie awake, holding her, I realize I'd do anything for this woman.
As the first rays of dewlight breach the cave's mouth, Iris stirs. Her eyes flutter open, and she smiles, a sight that could make even the most formidable warrior stumble.
Her hand reaches up to touch my face, her fingertips tracing my skin with gentle curiosity. Her other hand caresses my chest, her touch sending ripples of pleasure through me. I suppress a shudder, as she continues her gentle, tentative exploration, as if she's unsure of my response.
“Iris,” I whisper, closing my eyes.
Her hand slides behind my head and pulls me down…until I feel her soft lips brushing against my own.
My lips part on a quick inhale and she kisses my top lip, then the bottom one, slightly sucking them into her mouth.
I can’t help it, I groan long and deep. My heartbeat quickens, and I’m trembling from the storm of desire in my veins. With great restraint, I lean into the kiss, keeping it tender, wanting torespect her boundaries. Her lips are warm and yielding, and I savor the moment, drinking in the sweetness of her breath.
But when her hand fists in my hair, I growl with need.
Just as my restraint begins to crumble, a different kind of growl reverberates through the cave—menacing and deep—snapping us back to reality.
I move in front of Iris, as an enormous, four-legged beast with gleaming fur and dagger-like teeth emerges from the shadows, its beady red eyes fixed on us.
5
IRIS
"Stay behind me," Tak instructs, his voice low and steady. "I won't let it hurt you."